18 mile redemption!!

What a comeback...feeling proud after a pm 18 miles!!!!

It has been an up and down week with an 18 mile run planned for Sunday that turned into 5 ...I had a game plan with a 4 mile loop I would repeat...with Maggie acting as my water stop as I passed the house each loop...and a running partner planned for the 2nd 4 mile loop...but I got out there and my legs were dead and my cardio was just not there...so I toughed out a rough 5 miles and decided my body was trying to tell me something....

I was discouraged...and felt like I gave up on myself...But some words of encourgament from my biggest fans helped me take the setback in stride...and I started doing what I needed to prepare for a second shot at 18 on Wednesday...lots of stretching and ice...and some good rest days helped me get my legs back...

I had planned on doing it earlier today...but used the day to sleep in and clean up the apartment...5pm rolled around and I figured it was go time...I felt GREAT...I flew through the first 13 miles...then the pain started!!! My legs were hurting...but I pushed through and finished the 18 in just over 3 hours...about a 10 minute pace....and I burned 2,700 calories...CRAZY!!!!

It feels so good to have accomplished that...I am getting worried with the marathon FAST approaching....I have 14 planned for this weekend...a half the following weekend...and then finishing off the month with a 20 miler....then I taper...so it looks like I have a few tough weeks ahead and then its the home stretch...def in a much better position with today's 18 out of the way...

It is all feeling very real...with marathon gear coming into the store daily....worrying about what to wear marathon monday...logistics for me and the family...def getting real....but EXCITING!!! and my fundraising goal is sooo close to being attained...$500 to go...looking for something to do with your tax return?? Donate it to support me and the BLC!!! great idea huh?

Day off from running tomorrow...then back to the pavement on Friday...check back over the weekend for another update...

~Keli